From the Guidelines
Vancomycin is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to vancomycin.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity reactions: Vancomycin should not be used in patients who have a history of hypersensitivity reactions to vancomycin, such as anaphylaxis, red man syndrome, or Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
- Pregnancy and lactation: Although vancomycin is generally considered safe in pregnancy and lactation, it should be used with caution and only when the benefits outweigh the risks 1.
Special considerations
- Renal impairment: Vancomycin should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment, as it can accumulate and increase the risk of nephrotoxicity 1.
- Ototoxicity: Vancomycin can cause ototoxicity, and patients should be monitored for signs of hearing loss, especially when used in combination with other ototoxic agents 1. Note that the provided evidence does not explicitly state the contraindications of vancomycin, but based on general medical knowledge, the above contraindications can be inferred.
From the FDA Drug Label
Vancomycin hydrochloride for injection is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to this antibiotic. The contraindication to Vancomycin (vancomycin hydrochloride) is:
- Hypersensitivity to the antibiotic, as stated in the drug label 2.
From the Research
Contraindications to Vancomycin
The following are contraindications to vancomycin:
- Hypersensitivity to vancomycin 3, 4, 5
- Patients with known history of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity or ototoxicity 3, 4, 6, 5
- Patients with renal dysfunction, as vancomycin can exacerbate kidney damage 4, 6, 5
- Patients with hepatic dysfunction, as vancomycin can affect liver function 4
- Patients with compromised bone marrow function, as vancomycin can cause neutropenia 3, 5
- Patients with a history of red man syndrome, a hypersensitivity reaction to vancomycin 3, 4, 5
Special Considerations
- Vancomycin should be used with caution in patients with:
- Vancomycin should not be used alone in enterococcal endocarditis, as it is not effective against these organisms 7